The Role of Digital Print in Production

While currently only 3% of the 50 trillion pages printed worldwide every year are printed digitally, many businesses are now realising the benefits of the technology resulting in a big shift towards digital printing. As trends towards shorter print runs with variable information continue to grow, the demand for digital print is expanding. 

Making the leap from traditional production print to digital print may seem daunting, but with change comes the opportunity to expand your capabilities, maximise productivity, lower costs and increase profit margins. 

Digital print technologies such as the Xerox^® iGen^® 5 Press can help you offer the high-value options customers today demand. Customers are increasingly expecting more from their print and are looking to gain a competitive edge with accurate brand colours, varied finished sizes and specialist finish options such as embellishment effects. 

The flexibility of digital printing is one of its biggest benefits, but the automation and built-in intelligence features included in the Xerox^® iGen^® 5 Press can help significantly reduce setup, enhance image quality, lower labour costs and accelerate turnaround times. 

The advantages of digital printing 

Digital printing has many advantages over traditional production print, including: 

High-quality printing

Not only is the quality of digital print higher, but it is also more consistent. The colours display on the prints perfectly without the common issue of harsh lines and the quality remains the same throughout the entire run meaning that the last print will be exactly the same as the first. 

Perfect for short runs 

Customers today often want shorter runs with variable, personalised information which can be cost-prohibitive with traditional production print. But digital printing is ideal for short to medium sized runs and can provide a quick turnaround and without the need for any pre-press procedures or plates, the initial setup time is greatly reduced. 

Greater flexibility and versatility 

Digital print can help you expand your capabilities and unlock the door to a world of opportunities that aren’t possible with traditional production print. Digital printers have large media ranges and support printing on a wide range of substrates such as metallics, darks and synthetics. 

It also delivers advanced printing techniques that include foil stamps, die cuts and UV finishes and designs can be printed on a variety of materials from paper to fabric and even ceramics. 

More cost-effective

Without the additional costs of creating printing plates, digital printing is a more cost-effective solution. In fact, a survey conducted by InfoTrends found that print service providers’ profit margins on digital print enhancement were between 50% to 400%, resulting in a quick ROI.  

Better for the environment

From reducing and preventing paper and ink waste to using fewer toxic chemicals and not needing print screens, digital printing is better for the environment. Other green benefits include the ability to be able to send proofs for approval electronically, further cutting down on ink and material waste.